FFW 2021 Wine Catalogue

Bordeaux

BORDEAUX

There is no doubt 2019 is an outstanding vintage, clearly an important vintage. What stands out [...] is their exceptional balance.

—ANTONIOGALLONI, VINOUS

Bordeaux has been the centre of thewine trade since Eleanor of AquitanemarriedHenry II in 1152 with Bordeaux served at the royal wedding. This marked the beginning of 200 years of British rule that allowed Bordeaux to spread its reputation the world over. It has the perfect soil for vine cultivation. Its proximity to the Atlantic coast both influenced thewines and the trade that the shipping links allowed. Further developments followed in the 17th centurywhenDutch engineers drained themarshes that surrounded Bordeaux. Theseworks shaped the geography as we know it today, allowing some of the great vineyards of theworld to appear from thewater. As we come to themodern era, Bordeaux maintained its position at the head of the table. In 1855, a classificationwas drawnupwith Chateaux submitting their wines for approval. Thus, the current five-tier system we know todaywas born. It is still relevant to this day as a source of pride for the estates involved.

through an act of Parliament by the thenMinister of Agriculture Jacques Chirac (not a family friend?!). It is only in the latter part of the 20th century that châteaux started to bottle their wine before that shippers ormerchants would send their wines still in the barrel to their warehouses in London before bottling themselves. As the quality and consistency improved, the estates wanted greater control over their wines. Enprimeur, or wine futures, came about in the early 1980s, coincidingwith a period of global affluence. The 1982 vintage sawRobert Parker become the key influencer of thewinemarket withhis coverage of the Bordeaux releases. Unlike many other regions wheremerchants import wine directly to their home countries, Bordeaux is distributed ‘on the place’, themarketplace where négociants wouldmeet to trade. The vast

majority of Bordeaux trade is via négociants, agents that act as themiddleman between Châteaux and the global trade. Wemerchants, in-turn promote their wines to our customers. The Bordeaux vineyards that surround the city and each village or commune have their own textbook style. It is not a surprise to see these individual styles as to drive fromthe extremes of St. Estèphe to St. Émilionwould take over 90 minutes and cover about 100km. Charles Newman

BORDEAUX

CLASSIC GRAPE VARIETALS RED Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc; WHITEANDSWEET Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon SOIL TYPE Left Bank: Gravel Right Bank: Clay/Limestone

Later in the 20th century, with a global oil crisis of 1973, the Bordelaise had drastic financial issues that led to allowing foreign investment. It was the same year that Mouton-Rothschild was promoted from2nd to 1st growth, the only change since the 1855 classification

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WINE CATALOGUE